Trustee sale may occur when a home owner defaults on their mortgage and a lender takes possession of a home, or if a home owner fails to pay their property taxes and the taxing authority takes the property. The public is notified of trustee sales through newspaper classified listings.Why Trustee Sales?Typically a trustee sale is attractive because it allows the buyer to make or save money. Reports show "Trustee Sales are generally discounted between 10% and 20% and sometimes the discounts are even greater." (source) But, because of the auction environment and requirements of a trustee sale, buyers do need to be decisive and ready to leap when a good deal appears.

The Requirements and Risks of Trustee SalesPurchasing real estate at a Trustee Sale is more complicated and risky than purchasing in a traditional transaction. An experience realtor can help you navigate the many steps of Trustee Sales. Some limitations you should be aware of are:Trustee sales are cash only. When you make a bid you must have cashier's checks for the full amount of the purchase.There's limited selection of properties. It may take a while for a property that meet's your desires may not come to market.

There's no property inspection before purchase. You will typically not be able to view the inside of the property prior to the sale (rarely properties are listed in the Multiple Listing Service or the current owner will allow previews). Most often any property acquired in a Trustee Sale is acquired "as is" which may include undetectable physical damage.There's no insurance. Unlike a traditional home purchase, buyers can't purchase title insurance at the sale that protects against unrecorded liens. It's a rare risk, but it can happen and the buyer is responsible for any claims against the property.The sale is final. There is no recourse for buyers with remorse.To make a Trustee sale purchase a financial success requires much research and proper preparation for bidding. You'll be up against experienced bidders and investors. If you are interested in saving your family money by purchasing a property at a Trustee Sale, an experienced Realtor can dramatically improve your experience.

The City of Redondo Beach has a lot of history as one of the three communities that make up Southern California's South Bay--in fact, more than 100 years worth. Much of that history is reflected in some of the historic homes of Redondo Beach, incorporated in 1892, many of which were built just after the turn of the century and still stand today as a benchmark to the city's historic past.Here's a look at several of the historic homes:The Morrell House might be the most famous of the historic homes in Redondo Beach. Built in 1906 by Ed Morrell, a prominent entrepreneur, it was one of the first in Redondo Beach to have electricity and at 2,200 square feet was nearly twice as big as most houses in the city at that time.

The Queen Anne Cottage, circa 1904, now sits next to the Morrell House in Heritage Court within Dominquez Park and serves as the city's historical museum. The home was originally built at 318 S. Broadway and was slated for demolition in 1989 before it was acquired by the city and moved to its current location and later renovated.The Sweetser House is one of the most recognized in Redondo Beach. Built in 1921 at a cost of just $5,000, the Colonial Revival home belonged to Chase and Lillian Sweetser and later Chase Jr., who served as president of Coca-Cola until 1961 and lived in the home until his death in 1987. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.To get a look at more of the historic homes, the City of Redondo Beach lists all of the properties designated as local landmarks, while the Redondo Beach Historical Society has been hosting yearly home tours since 1982. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

The "Arts and Crafts" style of architecture was the result of an early 19th-century movement that promoted traditional craftsmanship and simple forms, and left a lasting impact on homes throughout the United States.The movement made its way to America at the turn of the century and is reflected in home styles and neighborhoods that were established from 1900 to 1930. Led by well-known furniture maker Gustav Stickley, Chicago architects Frank Lloyd Wright and George Washington Maher, and West Coast architects like Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, Julia Moran and Bernard Maybeck, the intent was to make the hallmarks of the movement--handcrafted artistry and exquisite craftsmanship – available for the working-class.More closely defined as an intellectual approach to architecture, the movement inspired many influential styles of homes including the bungalow, craftsman, prairie and foursquare, which still remain popular today.Because "Arts and Crafts" was a broad movement, there are many common factors and variations of key elements.Bungalows and Craftsman homes are built of natural materials and feature open floors plans and low-pitched roofs, often with wide overhangs. Elements you're likely to find include built-in furniture and light fixtures, fireplaces, exposed beams and porches with thick square or round columns. Both styles are most prevalent in California and on the West Coast.Prairie and Foursquare styles were first popularized in the Midwest. Prairie-style homes are modest and harmonize with the flat, open spaces by emphasizing horizontal lines and typically feature low-pitched gable roofs, wide eaves, and open interior plans centered on a fireplace. A close relative of the Prairie style, Foursquare feature hipped or pyramid-shaped roofs, overhangs, large porches and square or rectangular floor plans that also emphasize open concepts.

Popular with locals and tourists alike, the Manhattan Beach Pier is a great place to catch some of the best views in South Bay. Located in the heart of Manhattan Beach at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, the pier is more quiet and peaceful than many of its more developed cousins in Southern California. Whether you're out for some exercise, guiding a tour of out-of-town friends or just have some free time to kill, the pier can offer a quaint experience. It's a great place to watch the surfers, enjoy the waves, add a bit of distance to your run or bike ride or simply sit back and people watch while you relish the ocean breezes. What really makes Manhattan Beach Pier special are the breathtaking views, particularly at sunset. Take in the wide beaches that stretch for miles in both directions, sand volleyball games, beautiful Manhattan Beach homes on the hill and the rising Santa Monica Mountains to the North. The pier is popular among photographers and is a great backdrop for any sunset photo, even if you're an amateur. Manhattan Beach Pier is popular among both pier fishers and surfers. If you're not adventurous to get in the water yourself, chances are you will be able to watch the surfers navigate the waves. Fishing off the pier is popular and anglers will find common surf species, including mackerel, barracuda and white seabass in the deeper waters. At the end of the 928-foot pier sits its only building, the Roundhouse Marine Lab and Aquarium, a gem of a spot to take the kids. A big advantage for the pier is its proximity to downtown and many local shops and boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants, making it a great stroll after dinner. For more on what you might do on your trip to the pier, check out the city website or Downtownmanhattanbeach.com and see what the Yelpers suggest.

For many, the idea of a dream home is one perched on a hillside, capturing the views of the surrounding environment. There are many different ways to make that dream take the shape of an actual home. Whether the surrounding environment is urban or country, and the views are mountains, water or even desert, designers and architects have developed many commonly used concepts and design principles for an artfully built hillside home. Many have mastered the blend of form and function, truly taking advantage of what building on a hillside has to offer. If your hillside home is still in the dream stage and you’re in need of some ideas, here are seven concepts and themes for a little inspiration:Natural materials. Homes can easily blend into the natural hillside and surroundings by utilizing natural building materials. This hillside home in San Francisco utilizes wood and stone in its design, while the dark wood and exterior wood chips on this modern home help it blend naturally. Coexisting with the environment. The right design has the ability to reinforce the natural site the home is built upon. The best concepts create a feeling that the home has grown from the ground and is part of the landscape, like this contemporary homehttp://www.houzz.com/photos/1849736/Dani-Ridge-House-contemporary-exterior-san-francisco or this desert oasis.Maximizing the views. Naturally, the biggest draw of a hillside home is access to the views of the surrounding environment through large, oversized modern windows and doors. This home maximizes its front-facing view, while the back of this hillside home is almost entirely all glass with walls that open.Landscaping concepts. Many hillside homes naturally have a minimal environmental footprint, and it is common to replant the site back to its natural state, like this home. The right landscaping concepts can make the home truly feel like it is part of the hillside on which it was built, like this contemporary example.Light on multiple levels. Another benefit of a steeply sloping site is that it can allow for multiple levels of the home to have access to natural light and multiple views, like this home in Manhattan Beach.Terraced outdoor spaces. Homes successfully built into a hillside often include terraced outdoor spaces, like walkways or patios that flow directly into the landscape and allow both environments to merge, like this modern home in San Francisco. Access to rooftops. Some steep grades can create rooftop access for hillside homes, allowing more of the structure to be occupied. The roof of this eco-friendly home was transformed into a vegetated landscape to replace the footprint of the structure.